Large-scale population-based metabolic phenotyping of thirteen genetic polymorphisms related to one-carbon metabolism

Several polymorphisms of genes involved in one-carbon metabolism have been identified. The reported metabolic phenotypes are often based on small studies providing inconsistent results. This large-scale study of 10,601 population-based samples was carried out to investigate the association between a panel of biochemical parameters and genetics variants related to one-carbon metabolism. Concentrations of total homocysteine (tHcy), folate, vitamin B(12) (cobalamin), methylmalonic acid (MMA), vitamin B(2) (riboflavin), vitamin B(6) (PLP), choline, betaine, dimethylglycine (DMG), cystathionine, cysteine, methionine, and creatinine were determined in serum/plasma. All subjects were genotyped for 13 common polymorphisms: methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) c.665C>T (known as 677C>T; p.Ala222Val) and c.1286A>C (known as 1298A>C; p.Glu429Ala); methionine synthase (MTR) c.2756A>G (p.Asp919Gly); methionine synthase reductase (MTRR) c.66A>G (p.Ile22Met); methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (MTHFD1) c.1958G>A (p.Arg653Gln); betaine homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT) c.716G>A (known as 742G>A; p.Arg239Gln); cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) c.844_845ins68 and c.699C>T (p.Tyr233Tyr); transcobalamin-II (TCN2) c.67A>G (p.Ile23Val) and c.776C>G (p.Pro259Arg); reduced folate carrier-1 (SLC19A1) c.80G>A (p.Arg27His); and paraoxonase-1 (PON1) c.163T>A (p.Leu55Met) and c.575A>G (p.Gln192Arg). The metabolic profile in terms of the measured vitamins and metabolites were investigated for these 13 polymorphisms. We confirmed the strong associations of MTHFR c.665C>T with tHcy and folate, but also observed significant (P<0.01) changes in metabolite concentrations according to other gene polymorphisms. These include MTHFR c.1286A>C (associations with tHcy, folate and betaine), MTR c.2756A>G (tHcy), BHMT c.716G>A (DMG), CBS c.844_845ins68 (tHcy, betaine), CBS c.699C>T (tHcy, betaine, cystathionine) and TCN2 c.776C>G (MMA). No associations were observed for the other polymorphisms investigated.     

Transport, enzymatic activity, and stability of mutant sulfamidase (SGSH) identified in patients with mucopolysaccharidosis type III A

Mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIA (MPSIIIA) is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disease caused by mutations in the N-sulfoglucosamine sulfohydrolase gene (SGSH; encoding sulfamidase, also sulphamidase) leading to the lysosomal accumulation and urinary excretion of heparan sulfate. Considerable variation in the onset and severity of the clinical phenotype is observed. We report here on expression studies of four novel mutations: c.318C>A (p.Ser106Arg), c.488T>C (p.Leu163Pro), c.571G>A (p.Gly191Arg), and c.1207_1209delTAC (p.Tyr403del), and five previously known mutations: c.220C>T (p.Arg74Cys), c.697C>T (p.Arg233X), c.1297C>T (p.Arg433Trp), c.1026dupC (p.Leu343fsX158), and c.1135delG (p.Val379fsX33) identified in MPSIIIA patients. Transient expression of mutant sulfamidases in BHK or CHO cells revealed that all the mutants were enzymatically inactive with the exception of c.318C>A (p.Ser106Arg), which showed 3.3% activity of the expressed wild-type enzyme. Western blot analysis demonstrated that the amounts of expressed mutant sulfamidases were significantly reduced compared with cells expressing wild type. No polypeptides were immunodetectable in extracts of cells transfected with the cDNA carrying the c.697C>T (p.Arg233X) nonsense mutation. In vitro translation and pulse-chase experiments showed that rapid degradation rather than a decrease in synthesis is responsible for the low, steady-state level of the mutant proteins in cells. The amounts of secreted mutant precursor forms, the cellular stability, the proteolytic processing, and data from double-label immunofluorescence microscopy suggest that the degradation of the majority of newly synthesized c.220C>T (p.Arg74Cys), c.571G>A (p.Gly191Arg), c.1297C>T (p.Arg433Trp), c.1026dupC (p.Leu343fsX158), and c.1135delG (p.Val379fsX33) mutant proteins probably occurs in the ER, whereas c.488T>C (p.Leu163Pro) mutant protein showed instability in the lysosomes.     

Validation of the use of DNA pools and primer extension in association studies of sporadic colorectal cancer for selection of candidate SNPs

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a multifactorial disease that involves both lifestyle and genetic factors. To identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with sporadic CRC, we used pooled DNA samples representing 230 cases with sporadic CRC and 540 controls. The allele frequency of the SNPs was estimated in the two pools using a genotyping method based on primer extension and capillary electrophoresis (CE). The sensitivity of the method was high, which permitted the detection of an odds ratio (OR) of 1.5. Validation of the method showed that it is robust, linear, sensitive, and reproducible. Of the 224 SNPs investigated, 20 potential candidates associated with CRC were identified, including IL6 -174G>C (g.22062318G>C), XRCC1 c.685 C>T (p.Arg194Trp), PPARGC1A g.92945042C>T (3'UTR 96516), GSTP1 c.342A>C (p.Ile105Val), GSTM1 c.573C>G (p.Lys173Asn), and SULT1A1 g.19934792G>A (p.Arg213His). All were borderline significant, and none were significant at the 5% level. A high number of the SNPs (40%) were not polymorphic in our population. We conclude that instead of looking for single risk factors, investigators should examine individual combinations of potential risk factors to clarify the genetic predisposition to CRC.     

Role of beta-galactosidase and elastin binding protein in lysosomal and nonlysosomal complexes of patients with GM1-gangliosidosis

G(M1)-gangliosidosis is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by a deficiency of beta-galactosidase (GLB1). The GLB1 gene gives rise to the GLB1 lysosomal enzyme and to the elastin binding protein (EBP), involved in elastic fiber deposition. GLB1 forms a complex with protective protein cathepsin A (PPCA), alpha neuraminidase (NEU1), and galactosamine 6-sulphate sulfatase (GALNS) inside lysosomes, while EBP binds to PPCA and NEU1 on the cell surface. We investigated the function of the GLB1 and EBP mutated proteins by analyzing the clinical, genetic, and cellular data of 11 G(M1)-gangliosidosis patients. Their molecular analysis, followed by expression studies, lead to the identification of four new and 10 known GLB1 mutations. Some common amino acid substitutions [c.1445G>A (p.Arg482H), c.622C>T (p.Arg208His), c.175C>T (p.Arg59Cys) and c.176G>A (p.Arg59His)] were present in the GLB1 enzyme of several patients, all of Mediterranean origin, suggesting a common origin. Western blotting analyses against GLB1, EBP, and PPCA proteins showed that the identified mutations affect GLB1 enzyme activity and/or stability. The c.1445G>A (p.Arg482His), c.175C>T (p.Arg59Cys), c.733+2T>C, c.1736G>A (p.Gly579Asp), and c.1051C>T (p.Arg351X) GLB1 mutations, affect the stabilization of PPCA probably because they hamper the interaction between GLB1/EBP and PPCA within the multiprotein complex. The amount of EBP was normal, but the detection of impaired elastogenesis in such patients suggests an alteration in its function. We conclude that the presence of genetic lesions in both GLB1 and EBP coding region does not directly predict impaired elastogenesis and that elastic fiber assembly has to be evaluated specifically in each case. Nevertheless, the degree of EBP involvement may be linked to specific clinical findings.     

一例β-酮硫解酶缺乏症患儿 ACAT1基因变异分析

目的:探讨1例经新生儿疾病筛查拟诊为β-酮硫解酶缺乏症(β-ketothiolase deficiency,BKD)患儿的致病基因变异特点,明确其致病原因。方法:通过多重探针杂交富集患儿 ACAT1基因的全部编码区及其侧翼区序列进行高通量测序,确定可疑变异后应用Sanger测序进行变异位点验证。采用多种在线...     

Genetic polymorphisms of viral infection-associated Toll-like receptors in Chinese population

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a pivotal role in an innate immunity system, which controls inflammation responses and further instructs development of adaptive immunity. We enrolled 250 Han Chinese in Taiwan screening for the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TLRs associated with viral infection, including TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR7, TLR8, and TLR9. The 6 SNPs not hitherto identified in Chinese populations, including TLR3 1377 C>T, TLR3 -7 C>A, TLR7 Gln11Leu, TLR7 IVS1+1817 G>T, TLR8 Met1Val, and TLR8 -129 G>C, had minor allele frequencies of 38%, 23%, 22.3%, 3%, 16.0%, and 16.0%, respectively. The frequencies of 2 common SNPs, TLR9, -1486 T>C and 2848 G>A, were 28% and 44%, respectively. As compared with other ethnic populations, Chinese displayed an opposite allele frequency of TLR8 Met1Val and TLR8 -129 G>C to Caucasians and African Americans. In addition, TLR2 Arg677Try, TLR2 Arg753Gln, TLR4 Asp299Gly, and TLR4 Thr399Ile that were apparent in approximately 10% of Caucasians were not detected in Chinese. In conclusion, obvious ethnic differences in TLR polymorphisms may in part reflect the ethnic diversity of host viral susceptibility.     

Identification of variants in NFKBIA and association analysis with hepatocellular carcinoma risk among chronic HBV patients

Human nuclear factor of kappa light chain gene enhancer in B cells inhibitor, alpha (NFKBIA) inhibits the action of NF-kappaB by forming a heterodimer with NF-kappaB, and preventing its translocation to the nucleus. We have sequenced a human NFKBIA full gene including -1000bp promoter region to identify its gene polymorphisms as a potential candidate gene for host genetic study of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Nine novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and one GAA deletion were identified; two in promoter region (c.-673A>T, c.-642C>T), two in exon 1 (c.78G>A (Leu26Leu), c.81C>T (Asp27Asp)), three in introns (c.284T>A, c.1952A>G and c.2444C>T) and three in 3'UTR (c.2710-2712delGAA, c.2758G>A and c.3053G>A). Among ten identified variants, six were selected for larger scale genotyping (n=1,750) for association study based on frequencies and location. Haplotypes, their frequencies and linkage disequilibrium coefficients (/D'/) between SNP pairs were estimated. Allele frequencies of each SNPs and haplotypes were compared between patients with HCC and patients without HCC among HbsAg positives by logistic regression. As a conclusion, we could not find any significant association of NFKBIA variants with development of HCC among chronic hepatitis B patients.     

Investigation of citrullinemia type I variants by in vitro expression studies

Mild citrullinemia is an allelic variant of classical citrullinemia type I also caused by deficiency of the urea cycle enzyme argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS). Affected patients comprise a biochemical but no clinical phenotype. However, there is no reliable parameter allowing conclusions regarding the course of the disorder or its type of manifestation. The aim of this study was to test the importance of varying levels of ASS residual activities for the severity at diagnosis. Bacterial in vitro expression studies allowed the enzymatic analysis of purified wild-type and the mutant ASS proteins p.Ala118Thr (c.352G>A), p.Trp179Arg (c.535T>C), p.Val263Met (c.787G>A), p.Arg265Cys (c.793C>T), p.Met302Val (c.904A>G), p.Gly324Ser (c.970G>A), p.Gly362Val (c.1085G>T), and p.Gly390Arg (c.1168G>A). In the chosen system, classical mutations do not show any significant enzymatic activity, whereas mutations associated with a mild course yield significant ASS activity levels. The mutation p.Ala118Thr (c.352G>A) impresses by a high residual activity (62%) but a severe reduction of affinity toward the substrates citrulline and aspartate. This mutation was identified in a hitherto healthy female adult with no history of known citrullinemia who had died during the postpartum period from hyperammonemic coma. The results of this study suggest that even a high level of residual ASS activity is not a reliable prognostic marker for an uneventful clinical course. Determination of ASS residual activities, therefore, cannot help in anticipating the risk of metabolic derangement. This study should guide clinicians as well as patients with mild citrullinemia toward a lifelong awareness of the disorder.     

NDP gene mutations in 14 French families with Norrie disease

Norrie disease is a rare X-inked recessive condition characterized by congenital blindness and occasionally deafness and mental retardation in males. This disease has been ascribed to mutations in the NDP gene on chromosome Xp11.1. Previous investigations of the NDP gene have identified largely sixty disease-causing sequence variants. Here, we report on ten different NDP gene allelic variants in fourteen of a series of 21 families fulfilling inclusion criteria. Two alterations were intragenic deletions and eight were nucleotide substitutions or splicing variants, six of them being hitherto unreported, namely c.112C>T (p.Arg38Cys), c.129C>G (p.His43Gln), c.133G>A (p.Val45Met), c.268C>T (p.Arg90Cys), c.382T>C (p.Cys128Arg), c.23479-1G>C (unknown). No NDP gene sequence variant was found in seven of the 21 families. This observation raises the issue of misdiagnosis, phenocopies, or existence of other X-linked or autosomal genes, the mutations of which would mimic the Norrie disease phenotype.     

Identification of eight novel glucokinase mutations in Italian children with maturity-onset diabetes of the young

Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is a clinically heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by early onset non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, autosomal dominant inheritance, and primary defect in the function of the beta cells of the pancreas. Mutations in the glucokinase (GCK) gene account for 8%-56% of MODY, with the highest prevalences being found in the southern Europe. While screening for GCK mutations in 28 MODY families of Italian origin, we identified 17 different mutations (corresponding to 61% prevalence), including eight previously undescribed ones. The novel sequence variants included five missense mutations (p.Lys161Asn c.483G>C in exon 4, p.Phe171Leu c.511T>C in exon 5 and p.Thr228Ala c.682A>G, p.Thr228Arg c.683C>G, p.Gly258Cys c.772G>T in exon 7), one nonsense mutation (p.Ser383Ter c.1148C>A in exon 9), the splice site variant c.1253+1G>T in intron 9, and the deletion of 12 nucleotides in exon 10 (p.Ser433_Ile436del c.1298_1309del12). Our study indicates that mutations in the GCK/MODY2 gene are a very common cause of MODY in the Italian population and broadens our knowledge of the naturally occurring GCK mutation repertoire.     

Identification of ten novel mutations in patients with eIF2B-related disorders

Autosomal recessive inherited mutations in each of the five eukaryotic initiation factor 2B (eIF2B) subunits are known to cause white matter abnormalities with a wide continuum of clinical signs and severity leading to the concept of eIF2B-related disorders. The clinical spectrum extends from fatal infantile forms to adult forms with slow or absent neurological deterioration. In this study 15 well-characterised patients with the classical form of leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter (VWM) or with phenotypic variants like ovarioleukodystrophy were investigated for mutations in the genes EIF2B1, EIF2B2, EIF2B3, EIF2B4, and EIF2B5 encoding eIF2B. We identified one novel nonsense mutation (EIF2B4, c.625C>T, p.Arg209X), one novel frameshift mutation (EIF2B5, c.453_454del, p.Tyr152fsX12), eight novel missense muations (EIF2B1, c.547G>T, p.Val183Phe; EIF2B2, c. 586C>T, p.Pro196Ser; EIF2B4, c.806T>G, p.Leu269Arg; EIF2B5, c.203T>C, p.Leu68Ser; EIF2B5, c.220G>A, p.Ala74Thr; EIF2B5, c.805C>G, p.Arg269Gly; EIF2B5, c.929G>T, p.Cys310Phe; EIF2B5, c.1003T>C, p.Cys335Arg), and eight previously described alterations.     

Novel CLDN14 mutations in Pakistani families with autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss

Mutations in the CLDN14 gene are known to cause autosomal recessive (AR) non-sydromic hearing loss (NSHL) at the DFNB29 locus on chromosome 21q22.13. As part of an ongoing study to localize and identify NSHL genes, the ARNSHL segregating in four Pakistani consanguineous families were mapped to the 21q22.13 region with either established or suggestive linkage. Given the known involvement of CLDN14 gene in NSHL, DNA samples from hearing-impaired members from the four families were sequenced to potentially identify causal variants within this gene. Three novel CLDN14 mutations, c.167G>A (p.Trp56*), c.242G>A (p.Arg81His), and c.694G>A (p.Gly232Arg), segregate with hearing loss (HL) in three of the families. The previously reported CLDN14 mutation c.254T>A (p.Val85Asp) was observed in the fourth family. None of the mutations were detected in 400 Pakistani control chromosomes and all were deemed damaging based on bioinformatics analyses. The non-sense mutation c.167G>A (p.Trp56*) is the first stop codon mutation in CLDN14 gene to be identified to cause NSHL. The c.242G>A (p.Arg81His) and c.694G>A (p.Gly232Arg) mutations were identified within the first extracellular loop and the carboxyl-tail of claudin-14, respectively, which highlights the importance of the extracellular domains and phosphorylation of cytoplasmic tail residues to claudin function within the inner ear. The HL due to novel CLDN14 mutations is prelingual, severe-to-profound with greater loss in the high frequencies.     

七个鸟氨酸氨甲酰基转移酶缺陷症家系基因变异分析及产前诊断

目的对7个鸟氨酸氨甲酰基转移酶缺陷症(ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency,OTCD)家系进行OTC基因变异检测,明确其致病原因并为家系的遗传咨询和产前诊断提供依据。方法应用靶向高通量测序(next-generation sequencing,NGS)技术对7例经串联质谱筛查或临床诊断可疑OTCD的患儿或其母亲进行遗传代谢病相关基因panel检测,发现可疑致病变异位点后,应用PCR扩增和Sanger测序进行变异验证分析。在患儿母亲再次妊娠时抽取绒毛或羊水细胞进行相应基因变异检测,用于产前诊断。结果7个家系中共检测到7种OTC基因变异,分别为c.583G>A(p.Glyl95Arg).c.6260 T(p.Ala209Val)、c.6740 T(p.Pro225Leu)、c.482A>G(p.Asnl61Ser)、IVS1-2A>G、c.116G>T(p.Gly39Val).c.898delT(p.300Phefs*22),其中IVSl-2A>G、c・116G>T(p.Gly39Val)和c.898delT(p.300Phefs*22)为未报道过的新变异。产前诊断家系中3例胎儿基因测序均发现携带OTC基因变异半合子,性别为男性,孕妇选择终止妊娠,胎儿流产组织基因变异分析结果与产前诊断一致;另1例胎儿为OTC基因杂合变异,性别为女性,出生后新生儿筛查结果阴性,随访12个月,生长发育未见异常。结论OTC基因变异为7个OTCD家系的致病原因,致病变异的检出为家系的遗传咨询和产前诊断提供了依据。     

Novel RS1 mutations associated with X-linked juvenile retinoschisis

To identify mutations in the retinoschisin (RS1) gene in families with X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS). Twenty families with XLRS were enrolled in this study. All six coding exons and adjacent intronic regions of RS1 were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The nucleotide sequences of the amplicons were determined by Sanger sequencing. Ten hemizygous mutations in RS1 were detected in patients from 14 of the 20 families. Four of the ten mutations were novel, including c:176G>A (p:Cys59Tyr) in exon?3, c:531T>G (p:Tyr177X), c:607C>G (p:Pro203Ala) and c:668G>A (p:Cys223Tyr) in exon?6. These four novel mutations were not present in 176 normal individuals. The remaining six were recurrent mutations, including c:214G>A (p:Glu72Lys), c:304C>T (p:Arg102Trp), c:436G>A (p:Glu146Lys), c:544C>T (p:Arg182Cys), c:599G>A (p:Arg200His) and c:644A>T (p:Glu215Val). Our study expanded the mutation spectrum of RS1 and enriches our understanding of the molecular basis of XLRS.     

Mutations in EDAR account for one-quarter of non-ED1-related hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia

Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED) is characterized by abnormal development of the eccrine sweat glands, hair, and teeth. The X-linked form of the disease, caused by mutations in the ED1 gene, represents the majority of HED cases. Autosomal-dominant and -recessive forms occur occasionally and result from mutations in at least two genes: EDAR and EDARADD. These different forms are phenotypically indistinguishable. To better assess the implication of the EDAR gene in HED, we screened for mutations in 37 unrelated HED families or sporadic cases with no detected mutations in the ED1 gene. We identified 11 different mutations, nine of which are novel variants, in two familial and seven sporadic cases. Seven of the 11 are recessive mutations (c.140G>A (p.Cys47Tyr), c.266G>A (p.Arg89His), c.329A>C (p.Asp110Ala), c.442T>C (p.Cys148Arg), c.1208C>T (p.Thr403Met), c.1302G>T (p.Trp434Cys) and c.528+1G>A), and the other four are probably dominant (c.1129C>T (p.Leu377Phe), c.1237A>C (p.Thr413Pro), c.1253T>C (p.Ile418Thr), and c.1259G>A (p.Arg420Gln)). Our study demonstrates that EDAR is implicated in about 25% of non-ED1 HED, and may account for both autosomal-dominant and -recessive forms. The correlation between the nature and location of EDAR mutations and their mode of inheritance is discussed. A genotype-phenotype relationship was evaluated, since such data could be helpful for genetic counseling.     

Novel SLC4A11 mutations in patients with recessive congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy (CHED2). Mutation in brief #958. Online

Autosomal recessive congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy (CHED2) is a severe and rare corneal disorder that presents at birth or shortly thereafter, characterized by corneal opacification and nystagmus. Recently the gene for CHED2 was identified and seven different mutations in the SLC4A11 gene were reported. Here, we report seven novel mutations and two previously identified mutations in families from India and the United Kingdom with recessive CHED. The novel changes include two nonsense (p.Trp240X; p.Gln800X) three missense (p.Glu143Lys; p.Cys386Arg; p.Arg755Trp) and two splice site mutations (c.2240+1G>A; c.2437-1G>A). Interestingly, the c.2398C>T (p.Gln800X) and c.2437-1G>A identified in two affected siblings represent the first compound heterozygous mutations in the SLC4A11 gene.     

Low frequency of deafness-associated GJB2 variants in Kenya and Sudan and novel GJB2 variants

A large proportion of non-syndromic autosomal recessive deafness (NSARD) in many populations is caused by variants of the GJB2 gene. Here, the frequency of GJB2 variants was studied in 406 and 183 apparently unrelated children from Kenya and Sudan, respectively, with mostly severe to profound non-syndromic deafness. Nine (2.2 %) Kenyan and 12 (6.6 %) of the Sudanese children only were carriers of variants within the coding sequence of the GJB2 gene. Variants in the 5'-adjacent region were detected in further 115 individuals. A total of 10 novel variants was recognized, among them four variants in the adjacent 5'-region of the GJB2 coding exon 2 (g.3318-6T>A, g.3318-15C>T, g.3318-34C>T, g.3318-35T>G), a 6 base-pair deletion (g.3455_3460del [p.Asp46_Gln48delinsGlu]), a variant leading to a stop codon (g.3512C>A [p.Tyr65X]), synonymous variants (g.3395C>T [p.Thr26], g.3503C>T [p.Asn62], g.3627A>C [p.Arg104]), and one non-synonymous variant (g.3816C>A [p.Val167Met]). In addition, the previously described variants g.3352delG (commonly designated 30delG or 35 delG), g.3426G>A [p.Val37Ile], g.3697G>A [p.Arg127His], g.3774G>A [p.Val153Ile], and g.3795G>A [p.Gly160Ser] were identified. With the exception of g.3318-34C>T and g.3352delG, all variants occurred heterozygously. For most of the variants identified in the Kenyan and Sudanese study population, a causative association with NSARD appears to be unlikely. Compared to many other ethnic groups, deafness-associated variants of the coding region of GJB2 are rare in Sudan and Kenya, suggesting a role of other genetic, or epigenetic factors as a cause for deafness in these countries.     

Allelic heterogeneity of SMARD1 at the IGHMBP2 locus

Spinal Muscular Atrophy with Respiratory Distress (SMARD) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by neurogenic muscular atrophy due to progressive anterior horn cell degeneration and early life-threatening respiratory failure ascribed to diaphragmatic dysfunction. SMARD is clinically and genetically heterogeneous. SMARD type 1 is characterized by onset of respiratory failure within the first weeks of life and has been ascribed to mutations in the immunoglobulin mu-binding protein 2 (IGHMBP2) gene on chromosome 11q13-q21. We report here the identification of nine novel IGHMBP2 mutations in five SMARD1 patients, including seven missense [ c.587A>G (p.Gln196Arg), c.647C>T (p.Pro216Leu), c.752T>C (p.Leu251Pro), c.1693G>A (p.Asp565Asn), c.1730T>C (p.Leu577Pro), c.1807C>T (p.Arg603Cys), c.1909C>T (p.Arg637Cys)] and two nonsense mutations [ c.1488C>A (p.Cys496X), c.2368C>T (p.Arg790X)]. Interestingly, 7 of 9 mutations occurred at highly conserved residues of the putative DNA helicase domain. The identification of novel IGHMBP2 variants will hopefully help diagnosing SMARD1 and contribute to a better functional characterization of IGHMBP2 gene product.     

Polymorphisms in the P2X7 receptor gene are associated with low lumbar spine bone mineral density and accelerated bone loss in post-menopausal women

The P2X7 receptor gene (P2RX7) is highly polymorphic with five previously described loss-of-function (LOF) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP; c.151+1G>T, c.946G>A, c.1096C>G, c.1513A>C and c.1729T>A) and one gain-of-function SNP (c.489C>T). The purpose of this study was to determine whether the functional P2RX7 SNPs are associated with lumbar spine (LS) bone mineral density (BMD), a key determinant of vertebral fracture risk, in post-menopausal women. We genotyped 506 post-menopausal women from the Aberdeen Prospective Osteoporosis Screening Study (APOSS) for the above SNPs. Lumbar spine BMD was measured at baseline and at 6-7 year follow-up. P2RX7 genotyping was performed by homogeneous mass extension. We found association of c.946A (p.Arg307Gln) with lower LS-BMD at baseline (P=0.004, β=-0.12) and follow-up (P=0.002, β=-0.13). Further analysis showed that a combined group of subjects who had LOF SNPs (n=48) had nearly ninefold greater annualised percent change in LS-BMD than subjects who were wild type at the six SNP positions (n=84; rate of loss=-0.94%/year and -0.11%/year, respectively, P=0.0005, unpaired t-test). This is the first report that describes association of the c.946A (p.Arg307Gln) LOF SNP with low LS-BMD, and that other LOF SNPs, which result in reduced or no function of the P2X7 receptor, may contribute to accelerated bone loss. Certain polymorphic variants of P2RX7 may identify women at greater risk of developing osteoporosis.